Southampton Itchen (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Southampton, Itchen
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
SouthamptonItchen2007Constituency.svg
Boundary of Southampton, Itchen in Hampshire
EnglandHampshire.svg
Location of Hampshire within England
County Hampshire
Electorate 74,513 (December 2010) [1]
Major settlements Southampton
Current constituency
Created 1950
Member of Parliament Royston Smith (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created from Southampton

Southampton, Itchen is a constituency [n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Royston Smith, a Conservative member of parliament. [n 2] Discounting the Speaker (of the House of Commons) returned in the early 1970s in two elections, local voters have elected the MP from only two parties alternately for various periods, with one party reaffiliation (defection) between elections when the Labour Party split in the 1980s.

Contents

Since 1987, campaigns in the seat have resulted in a minimum of 26.8% of votes at each election consistently for the same two parties' choice for candidate, and the next highest-placed share having fluctuated between 3% and 23% of the vote. In those recent elections, save for 2015 when UKIP surged nationally, the third-placed candidate has been a Liberal Democrat, whose candidate lost their deposit in the result perhaps uniquely for an English university city seat in 2017, but which takes in far fewer of the university areas than Southampton Test. The seat attracted nine candidates in 1997; three in 1992. Oldest elections in the seat were sometimes a two-candidate contest, as in comparator mid-twentieth century English elections.

History

The constituency was created in 1950, when the two-member Southampton constituency was abolished.

The constituency is named after the River Itchen, which flows through it and is the lesser of the two major rivers that reach the tidal estuary of Southampton Water at the city. Although until the 1970s it was a safe Labour seat, it elected a Conservative MP, Christopher Chope in 1983 and 1987 after the sitting MP Bob Mitchell left Labour in 1981 for the SDP. The combination of Mitchell as a strong SDP-Liberal Alliance candidate in both 1983 and 1987, together with Conservative landslides, made Southampton Itchen highly competitive.

Labour candidate John Denham, defeated Chope by 551 votes in 1992 and held the seat with low-to-average majorities until 2010 when he won by 192 votes. From 2010 to 2017, the three general election results in the seat presented themselves as two-party ultra-marginal (finely-balanced) contests.

Royston Smith gained the seat as a Conservative in 2015. He had led his party's group on the city council and first contested the seat in 2010. He retained the seat in the 2019 general election with a majority of over 4000 votes.

Boundaries

Southampton Itchen (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of current boundaries

1950–1955: The County Borough of Southampton wards of Bevois, Bitterne and Peartree, Bitterne and Sholing, Newtown, Northam, Portswood, St Denys, St Mary's, Trinity, and Woolston. [2]

1955–1983: The County Borough of Southampton wards of Bitterne, Harefield, Peartree and Bitterne Manor, St Denys and Bitterne Park, St Luke's, St Mary's, Sholing, Swaythling, and Woolston. [3]

1983–1997: The City of Southampton wards of Bargate, Bitterne, Bitterne Park, Harefield, Peartree, St Luke's, and Sholing.

1997–present: The City of Southampton wards of Bargate, Bitterne, Bitterne Park, Harefield, Peartree, Sholing, and Woolston.

The seat covers the eastern part of the City of Southampton, in southern England, specifically the city centre, the eastern port areas (the Port of Southampton is one of the principal ports of the UK), the exclusive Ocean Village quarter, the inner city council estates and the economically deprived Thornhill estate on its eastern boundary. It is seen as the more working class of the two constituencies in the city.[ citation needed ] The other is Southampton Test – named after the River Test.

The constituency is bounded to the west by Southampton Test (Labour), to the north and east by Eastleigh (Conservative) and in the far north by Romsey and Southampton North (Conservative).

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be unchanged. [4]

Following a review of local authority ward boundaries, which became effective in May 2023, the constituency now comprises the following:

The City of Southampton wards of Bargate, Bitterne, Bitterne Park, Harefield, Peartree, Sholing, and Woolston; and two polling districts from the Banister & Polygon ward.

Constituency profile

Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 close to but slightly below than the national average of 3.8%, at 3.5% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian , above the average for the South East seats of 2.5% but below, for example, five seats in East Kent. [5]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [6] Party
1950 Ralph Morley Labour
1955 Horace King Labour
1965 Speaker
1971 by-election Bob Mitchell Labour
1981 SDP
1983 Christopher Chope Conservative
1992 John Denham Labour
2015 Royston Smith Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: Southampton Itchen
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Reform UK Treciaus Chitsika [7]
Labour Darren Paffey [8]
Conservative Sidney Yankson [9]
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors
Swing

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Southampton Itchen [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Royston Smith 23,952 50.5 +4.0
Labour Simon Letts19,45441.0-5.5
Liberal Democrats Liz Jarvis2,5035.3+2.3
Green Osman Sen-Chadun1,0402.2+0.6
UKIP Kim Rose4721.0-1.4
Majority4,4989.5+9.4
Turnout 47,42165.6+0.4
Conservative hold Swing +4.8
General election 2017: Southampton Itchen
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Royston Smith 21,773 46.54 +4.8
Labour Simon Letts21,74246.47+10.0
Liberal Democrats Eleanor Bell1,4213.0-0.6
UKIP Kim Rose1,1222.4-11.0
Green Rosie Pearce7251.6-2.6
Majority310.07-5.1
Turnout 46,78365.2+3.4
Conservative hold Swing -2.6
General election 2015: Southampton Itchen [11] [12] [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Royston Smith 18,656 41.7 +5.4
Labour Rowenna Davis 16,34036.5-0.3
UKIP Kim Rose6,01013.4+9.1
Green John Spottiswoode1,8764.2+2.8
Liberal Democrats Eleanor Bell1,5953.6-17.2
TUSC Sue Atkins2330.5+0.1
Majority2,3165.2N/A
Turnout 44,71061.8+2.2
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +2.8
General election 2010: Southampton Itchen [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Denham 16,326 36.8 −11.5
Conservative Royston Smith 16,13436.3+8.5
Liberal Democrats David Goodall9,25620.8-0.3
UKIP Alan Kebbell1,9284.3+0.5
Green John Spottiswoode6001.4New
TUSC Tim Cutter1680.4New
Majority1920.5-21.0
Turnout 44,41259.6+4.1
Labour hold Swing −10.3

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Southampton Itchen [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Denham 20,871 48.3 −6.2
Conservative Flick Drummond 11,56926.8−0.6
Liberal Democrats David Goodall9,16221.2+6.2
UKIP Kim Rose1,6233.8+1.8
Majority9,30221.5-5.6
Turnout 43,22555.5+1.5
Labour hold Swing −2.8
General election 2001: Southampton Itchen [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Denham 22,553 54.5 −0.3
Conservative Caroline Nokes 11,33027.4−1.0
Liberal Democrats Mark Cooper6,19515.0+3.3
UKIP Kim Rose8292.0+1.7
Socialist Alliance Gavin Marsh2410.6New
Socialist Labour Michael Holmes2250.5
Majority11,22327.1+0.7
Turnout 41,37354.0-16.0
Labour hold Swing +0.4

Electorate: 76,603

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Southampton Itchen [17] [18] [19] [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Denham 29,498 54.8 +10.8
Conservative Peter Fleet15,26928.4−13.7
Liberal Democrats David Harrison6,28911.7−2.2
Referendum John Clegg1,6603.1New
Socialist Labour Kim Rose6281.2New
UKIP Clive Hoar1720.3New
Socialist Alternative Gavin Marsh1130.2New
Natural Law Rosemary Barry1100.2New
ProLife Alliance Ferdi McDermott990.2New
Majority14,22026.4+21.4
Turnout 53,83870.0-5.1
Labour hold Swing +12.3

Electorate: 76,869

General election 1992: Southampton Itchen [21] [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Denham 24,402 44.0 +11.9
Conservative Christopher Chope 23,85143.0−1.3
Liberal Democrats James R.T. Hodgson7,22113.0−10.6
Majority5511.0N/A
Turnout 55,47476.9+1.0
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +6.6

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Southampton Itchen [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Christopher Chope 24,419 44.3 +2.8
Labour John Denham 17,70332.1+5.0
SDP Bob Mitchell 13,00623.6-7.9
Majority6,71612.2+2.2
Turnout 55,12875.9+2.6
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Southampton Itchen [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Christopher Chope 21,937 41.5
SDP Bob Mitchell 16,64731.5
Labour John Denham 14,32427.1
Majority5,29010.0N/A
Turnout 52,90873.3
Conservative gain from SDP Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Southampton Itchen
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Bob Mitchell 28,036 46.3 -2.6
Conservative Andrew Hunter 26,43443.6+8.2
Liberal John Pindar6,13210.1-5.6
Majority1,6022.7-10.8
Turnout 60,60274.7+4.4
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Southampton Itchen
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Bob Mitchell 28,168 48.9 +4.9
Conservative P. T. James20,37335.4+0.4
Liberal Joseph Cherryson9,07115.7-5.3
Majority7,79513.5+4.5
Turnout 57,61270.3-6.9
Labour hold Swing
General election February 1974: Southampton Itchen
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Bob Mitchell 27,557 44.0 N/A
Conservative P. T. James21,96735.0N/A
Liberal Joseph Cherryson13,17321.0N/A
Majority5,5909.0N/A
Turnout 62,69777.2+23.1
Labour gain from Speaker Swing
1971 Southampton Itchen by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Bob Mitchell 22,57555.36New
Conservative James Spicer 12,90031.63New
National Democratic Edwin Bray3,0907.58
Liberal Joseph Cherryson2,2145.43New
Majority9,67523.73N/A
Turnout 40,779
Labour gain from Speaker Swing
General election 1970: Southampton Itchen
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Speaker Horace King 29,417 67.2 -18.2
National Democratic Edwin Bray9,58121.9New
Independent Brian Henry Phillips4,79411.0New
Majority19,83645.3-25.5
Turnout 43,79254.1+5.1
Speaker hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Southampton Itchen [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Speaker Horace King 30,463 85.4 +32.7
Democratic Non-party NationalistKenneth Douglas Hunt5,21714.6New
Majority25,24670.8+52.6
Turnout 35,68049.0-27.1
Speaker gain from Labour Swing
General election 1964: Southampton Itchen [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Horace King 28,949 52.7 -0.7
Conservative Godfrey Olson18,97434.5-12.1
Liberal Joseph Cherryson7,00712.8New
Majority9,97518.2+9.4
Turnout 54,93076.1-1.9
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Southampton Itchen
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Horace King 29,123 53.42
Conservative Evelyn King 25,39046.58
Majority3,7336.84
Turnout 54,51378.00
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Southampton Itchen [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Horace King 29,14955.49
Conservative Leslie Loader23,37844.51
Majority5,77110.98
Turnout 52,52778.28
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Southampton Itchen [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ralph Morley 30,330 54.12
National Liberal Reginald Stranger25,70845.88
Majority4,6228.24
Turnout 56,03883.59
Labour hold Swing
General election 1950: Southampton Itchen [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ralph Morley 29,749 53.44
National Liberal Robert Hobart 24,53644.08
Ind. Conservative William Craven-Ellis 1,3802.48
Majority5,2139.36
Turnout 55,66584.0
Labour win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ↑ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

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References

  1. ↑ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ↑ Representation of the People Act 1948, Sch 1
  3. ↑ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN   0-900178-09-4.
  4. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  5. ↑ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  6. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "I"
  7. ↑ "Southampton Itchen Constituency". Reform UK . Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  8. ↑ "Two more local Labour Parties select their candidates for the next election". LabourList . Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  9. ↑ "Candidates. Bromiley selected in Kingswood. Yankson selected in 'extremely marginal' Southampton Itchen". ConservativeHome . Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  10. ↑ "Southampton Itchen Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  11. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. ↑ Archived 15 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ "BBC NEWS – Election 2015 – Southampton Itchen". BBC News.
  14. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1997. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  19. ↑ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.150 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  20. ↑ The 1997 election result is calculated relative to the notional, not the actual, 1992 result.
  21. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  23. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ↑ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1966.
  26. ↑ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1964.
  27. ↑ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.
  28. ↑ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
  29. ↑ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Constituency represented by the speaker
1965–1971		Succeeded by

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